Paddleboard Longer and Stronger | 5 SUP Paddle Techniques and Tips

By:  Jamie Jiron

Photo: Kyle Jiron

We have heard for years now how fat America is getting. Hence, the rise of the fitness trends that have been popping up ever since the invention of the dollar menu and one huge reason to over indulge is the high stress society that we are forced into. This is the beauty of paddleboarding. Not only does it address the need for working out, but it also gets you away from everything and out in the calm of whatever body of water your heart desires. Yet, one thing that I see all the time with people getting into the sport, is they can’t paddle long enough or understand how to get these full workout benefits that SUP addresses. 

Here are 5 common mistakes that I have seen that one can avoid easily so you can paddle further, longer and more consistently.

Bike Touring Gear List | Bike Trip Tips

By Megan Maxwell
In two weeks, I will be heading out to bike 1800 miles down the Pacific Coast from Vancouver to Tijuana.  I’m finally getting all of my gear together and taking my bike off its bike rack to do training rides. My plan is to pack as minimally as possible to keep the weight down. I have contained everything I need to fit into two panniers that are each 20 liters (40 liters total).

Fiji Pro 2014 | June 1 - June 13 | Kelly Slater Seeks Third Straight Win at Fiji

The 2014 Fiji Pro runs this June 1 through June 13 at Tavarua, Fiji, with the site of the competition varying between Cloudbreak and Restaurants depending on the swell conditions.  The Fiji Pro is the 5th stop on the WCT Tour for 2014.  

Entering the Fiji Pro, Kelly Slater sits atop the WCT standings, followed by Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Michel Bourez, and Gabriel Medina.  Last year's champ, Mick Fanning, has struggled in the early part of the season, and is in 8th place after an early elimination at the last event, the Billabong Rio Pro.

Wakeboard Boat Tower Racks | Clamps and Swivels

Wakesurf or wakeboard tower racks for your boat come in a variety of styles and shapes, but the purpose is always the same - storage and organization on your boat. If you’ve ever been out on the boat with friends, coolers, and all your favorite toys, then you’ll understand how precious of a commodity space is on your boat.

Two options featured on some tower racks are clamps and swivels.  Wakeboard boat tower clamps and swivels accomplish the same task – they bind your rack to your boat’s tower. They are a necessary part of a rack system.

Best Way to Store a Paddleboard (SUP) | Wall Racks

With all the excitement over picking out your SUP, paddle, and other gear, storage of your paddleboard is often neglected.  If you’re used to surfing or other board sports, then transporting or storing your board might be as simple as throwing it in the trunk or standing it up in the corner of your room. However, because of their size, storing and transporting your SUP is a whole different beast. Additionally, with most SUPs costing $1000 or more, there is serious incentive to protect your investment and have proper storage and transportation methods in place.

Happy Memorial Day 2014 from StoreYourBoard!

Happy Memorial Day 2014 from StoreYourBoard!

Take a minute (or a few) to thank those who have served our country and to remember those who have given their lives doing so!



Visit: www.StoreYourBoard.com

Surfboard Travel Bags | Longboards, Shortboards, 1-4 Boards, Wheels

Surfboard Travel Bags.  With the swells dying down as summer arrives, maybe you've got a trip planned to a destination surf spot to catch some waves.  Or maybe you're already thinking about your huge winter surf trip with your family or friends.  Either way, you need to make sure you've got the best surfboard travel bags around, and StoreYourBoard is now equipped with all the bags you'll need to travel with your surfboards, from bags for 1 to 4 boards and bags with wheels, we've got it all.

Here are just a few of the varieties of surfboard bags that we carry.  Check them all out here.

The Suburban Surfer: Staying Stoked Through the Grind

By Rick Bickerstaff

Some people get paid to surf. Isn't that ridiculous? It's like getting paid to eat ice cream or something...

And then there's the rest of us -- spending our days chained to a cubicle, staring at a computer monitor; eight hours sandwiched between a traffic-filled commute each way. By the time you get home, you're so exhausted (but you're not sure why...after all, you just sat down all day) you wouldn't have the energy to surf if the sun stalled long enough to make it happen.

So how do we stay stoked on surfing through the drudgery of every day life? Here are seven tips I've used to get through the daily grind, because a surfer's got to do what a surfer's got to do:

An East-coast sunrise session.

What You Need for Long Training Bike Rides | Biking Trip Must-Haves

By Megan Maxwell
I’m currently training for my bike trip from Vancouver to Tijuana. I’ve been going on long bike rides around Denver to get ready, doing 10- 20 miles at a time. During these rides, I’ve also been trying to figure out what I need for a happy long bike ride.

• Water. Bring at least one liter of water along during your bike ride. If it’s a really hot day or you’re going a long distance, bring more than one liter. This is probably the most important thing you can bring along.
• Fully charged phone. It’s important to have a charged phone in case something goes wrong, like an injury or a sudden thunderstorm, and you need to call someone to come get you. You also might want to listen to music and take photos.
• Snacks. Even if you just ate before you left, still bring a snack along with you. You might get lost and bike further than planned or you might just get a hunger attack. I’m tend to get dizzy and sometimes black out if it’s been a while since I last ate or I’ve been working out really hard, so I always keep a granola bar in my backpack.
• A jacket. You never know when it’s going to start raining or get cold. Always have a spare jacket when you, so you’re ready when the weather takes a turn for the worst.

• Biking App. Keep an app running that records your GPS coordinates, time, speed, distance, and elevations. Then you can save your bike rides on the phone and see the sort of progress you’re making. It’s also useful if you forget where your car is and you want to see how far away you are. Not that I know that from experience or anything.
• Audiobook app/ music app. OK, I realize that most people will prefer to have music playing rather than an audiobook. However, I like to listen to stories the majority of time. Be sure to only keep one ear bud in, so you can still hear everything that’s going on around you.
• Tube repair tools. You never know when you’re going to pop a hole in a tube and need to patch it. Make sure that you have a few spare patches, sandpaper, glue, and tire levers. Your bike multi-tool is optional, but it never hurts to have it.
• Bike lights (depending on time of day). If you’re going on your bike trip in the evening, you should pack your lights. If you’re going for a morning ride you don’t need them, unless it’s a ride that will take the entire day.
• Transport. If you don’t have enough room in your car for your bike, transport it with a hitch bike rack.



Visit: www.StoreYourBoard.com

City SUP Essentials | Urban Paddleboard Accessories

By Jamie Jiron

One of the (many) beauties of the ocean is its ability to put one’s mind at total tranquility; the relaxing sounds of waves soothe the internal soul.  I am probably the furthest thing from a city person, yet I grew up around the city for my entire life. I learned to SUP down in the Outer Banks, and absolutely fell in love with it. I needed to SUP everyday for hours on end. 

Skateboard Triple Rack Installation | Skate Storage and Display

By Rick Bickerstaff

It's a good problem: you have your skateboard for the park, your long board, your cruiser and maybe even a freestyle board...where are you going to put them all?! Good thing Store Your Board made this lightweight, sturdy skateboard rack that you can install in no time!

Dew Tour Comes to Ocean City, Maryland June 25-29 | Surfing, Skating and BMX

For the 4th year, Ocean City, Maryland will host the opening stop on the Dew Tour series this June 25-29, 2014.  The Beach Championships will feature BMX, skateboarding and surfing as professional athletes compete to win money, prizes, and the Dew Tour title!  Come out to the beach at the southern tip of OCMD to check it all out, free to the public!  And stay for the concerts and other action they have for fans that weekend.

Events include:

• BMX Park
• BMX Street Session
• BMX Vert
• Skateboard Bowl
• Skateboard Legends Bowl
• Skateboard Street Session
• Skateboard Vert
• Am Skateboard Shop Battle
• Am Surf Shop Showdown

More details to follow at the DewTour website.

Visit: www.StoreYourBoard.com

2014 Billabong Rio Pro is On Live | Kelly Slater Perfect 10 in Round 5

The 2014 Billabong Rio Pro is on live this morning for those of you looking to check out event number 4 on surfing's World Championship Tour.  Currently the last heat of Round 5 is going off with Josh Kerr facing off against Sebastian Zietz.  It's possible that they run the rest of the heats today and crown a champion this afternoon.  

Kelly Slater is on to the quarterfinals after a super deep perfect 10 barrel against Adriano de Souza in Round 5.  Other big names and recent world champions like Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson have already been eliminated.  Defending Rio Pro champion Jordy Smith is still alive and obviously has a great connection with South America's only wave on tour, at Rio de Janeiro.   Young guns Kolohe Andino and Nat Young also lurking in the quarterfinals.

Slater's Perfect 10 Sequence:

Visit: www.StoreYourBoard.com

SUP Locks | Protect Your Paddleboards with a Lock System

We know how big of an investment a stand up paddleboard is, and we want to make sure that our customers' investments are protected at all times when their SUPs aren't being used, so we are now offering a number of locking products to keep our customers' SUPs safe.  We've got (1) SUP locks that lock directly to your paddleboard and we have (2) locking tie down straps for when your paddleboard is strapped to your roof.  Check 'em out!

Final Preparations for My Pacific Coast Bike Journey | 1,700 Miles from Vancouver to Tijuana

By Megan Maxwell
In one short month I will be departing for a 1,700 mile (or 1,800, see, I’m not even sure) bike ride down the Pacific Coast from Vancouver to Tijuana. I’ve been budgeting accordingly and choosing the appropriate gear for a while now. I’m an experienced long-distance hiker, so I’m overly prepared for the camping aspect of the trip. And I’ve worked hard to minimize my gear to keep my bike load as light as possible. I even went to the local bike depot to learn how to fix minor issues with my bike.

SUP Leashes | Straight, Coiled and Hybrid Paddleboard Leashes

Check out our SUP Leashes, one of the latest product additions to our site.  As the weather heats up, we've got you covered with stand up paddleboard leashes, whether you're taking your board into the surf to catch some waves or are just cruising around the lake or other flatwater, or getting in some SUP yoga.  Depending on your activity, you should check out our coiled SUP leashes, our hybrid SUP leashes, or our standard, straight SUP leashes.

Tips for Surfing Backside | Nailing Backside Waves

By Rick Bickerstaff

Ever show up to a spot where the waves are only breaking backside...but you don't know how to surf backside?! You paddle out anyway, only to fumble around trying to stand up, as thoughts of spending the day riding switch-foot run through your mind. Well, worry no more! Below are some standard backside riding tips for the next time you find yourself in this situation.